Maryland Closes More of Cunningham Falls State Park After Second Beaver Attack
Maryland officials have closed parts of Cunningham Falls State Park after a second beaver attack in two weeks tested positive for rabies. Authorities are investigating a potential rabies outbreak in the local beaver population and have prohibited all water access.
Why it matters
Public safety concerns regarding wildlife-borne diseases have led to the closure of a popular recreational area, highlighting the risks of rabies in local ecosystems.
Update 4:25 p.m. Aug. 6: The Maryland Department of Health has confirmed the second beaver collected from Cunningham Falls State Park had tested positive for the rabies virus .
Original release: The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is closing additional areas of Cunningham Falls State Park around Hunting Creek Lake after a fisherman reported that he was bitten on the leg by a beaver in the South Beach Day Use area of the park at about 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 5.
The injured fisherman in today’s attack, a 19-year-old male, appeared to have sustained a bite to the ankle and transported himself to Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown for treatment. He received treatment for rabies exposure and a tetanus shot, and Natural Resources Police followed up with him after treatment for an account of the incident.
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